Published 12:37 am, Sunday, November 6, 2011

Johnson this week proudly displayed an election campaign-styled shirt that had "Fitzpatrick-Johnson 2012: Yes We Can" written in red, white and blue lettering across the chest.

"Yes we can. Yes we can get to the playoffs, we can get to the Super Bowl," Johnson said, noting he and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick are running on the "Bills Party" platform. "Whatever they say we can't, we can."

The Bills have delivered a message of hope and change to their win-starved fans courtesy of a surprising 5-2 start that has them tied with New England atop the AFC East. And it's not lost on the players how much Buffalo could further turn this division on its head with a win Sunday, when the Jets (4-3) come to town.

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Jets at Bills

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park

TV: CBS-6

"I don't want to say they're too much of a hype, because they've gotten it done," Johnson said, referring to the Jets' bigger-than-Broadway reputation. "I think it's our turn now. It's our turn to show that we're going to come in and try to take over this division and make this run be for real."

And there, in a nutshell, is how this recently lopsided rivalry -- the Jets have won five of the past six and outscored the Bills by a combined 76-21 last year -- has taken on a twist. The Bills are pushovers no longer as they prepare to play their most meaningful game in November in four seasons.

Buffalo has the Jets' attention, though coach Ryan and company don't have any intention of backing down. "I don't think (the division) is flipped on its head. There's a lot of football left to be played. We plan on being at the top of the division when it's all said and done," Ryan said. "We're not worried about, 'Let's wait until week whatever, 12 or 13.' We're ready to make our move right now, and that's our intention."

The schedule lines up for them. After playing the Bills, they host New England and then host Buffalo on Nov. 27, as part of a stretch that has the potential to go far in separating the division's pretenders and contenders -- sorry Miami.